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Babette · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:46 pm Post subject: Do you recycle?

Do you recycle and got any tips on how to live a greener life?

pattit · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:42 am Post subject:

Yes, I recycle anything I can. A tip I just learned recently has me recycling my coffee grounds, I have learned that it keeps away a lot of pest if you place it around the base of your vegetable plants and it also enriches the soil. I have always saved my veggie scraps in a heap to add to my garden when I am tilling the soil in the spring.

fit4life · Garde Manger Chef Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 31

i try to. i bring my lunch to school everyday so i always use those plastic lunch baggies. i usually wash them out and let them dry so i can reuse them again. they usually last about 2-3 times before you have to throw them out b/c you never know if bacteria is stuck in there.

karen · Junior Sous Chef Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 108

I'm thinking about starting my own garden so I don't have to burn gas to go to the market. With prices going up I think it's worth it. I saw a commercial this weekend for some organic "miracle grow - or something like that" that said the plants grow twice as big and so do the veggies.. anyone see that too?

pattit · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:23 am Post subject:

No, if you find out how to make it or where to buy it let me know, I would definetely be interested.

Serri · Commis Chef Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 14

Karen - I think I saw that commercial too. I think it's a new miracle grow stuff.. but the word "organic" is in the title.

grammie · Commis Chef Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 24

I try to recycle when I can. My problem is knowing what can and cannot be recycled. Any tips?

bubbamom · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

I first visited this forum yesterday and I've been thinking about what I do to help the environment. At first, I was upset because I didn't think I was doing anything and then today doing some laundry the "lights came on". These are some of the things I do...

Wash laundry in cold or cool water and use only about 1/3 of the amount of soap that the soap mfg recommend (soap suds don't mean cleaner clothes!). Besides cleaning the laundry, the soap reduction helps keep the washing machine from getting gummed up with undisolved detergents.

Hang out the laundry, especially sheets, blankets, light blankets, throws, etc whenever the weather permits

Rarely use paper or foam plates (what's the difference if I wash a few more dishes because there are always some to wash anyway?)

Plan my auto trips - can I do in one trip with a few stops what might be done in separate trips? Does a neighbor want to ride along to do their shopping?

I use plastic bags from the grocery store cleaning up the yard after my beloved dog; also use the paper grocery bags for cooling cookies (cut and spread out over a counter or table top).

I changed some of the lightbulbs in the house to flourescent (not all because I don't think they provide the same amoint of light).

And, of course, I do recycle the newspaper and flyers, cans and plastics. Did you know that plastic water bottles can be filled with rice or sand to be used as weights for exercise purposes?

Also, I pass on to family and friends, magazines and books. Which leads to my last hint ... I borrow books from the library.

I'll bet there are things we all do every day that we don't even think about that save the planet - - sometimes they are things we do to pinch pennies!

Babette · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:07 am Post subject:

I completely agree with you. I was listening to Danny Bonaduce (Partridge Family fame who's on 97.1 - which by the way is pretty good. I'm annoyed that he and his wife are seperating and he keeps talking about sleeping with as many women as possible, but that's another story - Danny, if you're reading... stop it. Show us you're better than that!)

Anyhow, they were talking about recycling and turning off lights and he said that his brother--in-law came over and said they had 60 something lights on at a time... when no one was home... We forget that some of our lights have multiple bulbs on them... look around and turn them off... Smile

I also saw a commercial about changing air conditioners and how if you get an energy efficient one it's like taking thousands of cars of the road.. I can't remember the exact number.

I'm terrible. I use paper plates and recycle them. It's my attempt to control the dishes because apparently I'm the only one in the house who knows how to do them. (Didn't know it took skill, but apparently it does. I won't name anyone to protect the innocent.)

Anyhow, I agree.. we all probably do something to help, but we can all do more. I think we should all start by planting a tree. Smile

that's a way to make our places look better and get some clean air. My two cents.

bubbamom · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:

Admin, planting a tree is a good idea - - planting anything is a good idea. HOWEVER, I spent the past 3 hrs (unplanting) digging up too long neglected weeds in one stubborn flower bed. Embarassed

On the positive side - - I could have used a small rotortiller, but that would have had a negative impact on the air quallity. On the positive side, it was a good workout. Guess I should reward myself and bake something yummy for desert! Laughing

PS I read somewhere that we use less gas if we pull out of a parking space rather than baking out of a parking space. hmmmm I'll have to think about that one!